NGO: Chain of Hope

Founded in 1994 by Professor Alain Deloche, Chain of Hope operates in over 30 countries to provide access to healthcare and education to children in need. Through its outstanding network of medical and surgical specialists, Chain of Hope operates and treats thousands of children each year.

Chain of Hope is also active in the field of education with school sponsorship and assistance programs. Through its work, 25,000 children have been able to go back to school.

HELPING SYRIAN CHILDREN REFUGEES IN JORDAN

According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), nearly 3 million people, including many women and children have fled Syria since March 2011, when the conflict began. The vast majority of refugees are now in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey.

Responding to the call of the Unifed Medical Syrian Bureau (UMSB) – a network of Syrian physicians refugees in Jordan, where nearly 1,250,000 refugees are registered – Chain of Hope, as early as November 2012, met with different Syrian and Jordanian health specialists, carried out a needs assessment in medical and surgical care for Syrian refugee children, visited hospitals and examined possible ways of interventions.

Following these meetings, The Chain of Hope decided to set up a program to help refugee children suffering from sequelae of gunshot wounds or explosives, injuries resulting from amputations or implant of osteosynthesis plate as well as chest and cerebral trauma. These severe cases require surgical treatment. In 2013, the Chain of Hope conducted three missions, examined more than a hundred children and carried out a total of 34 surgeries.

Given the significant needs for surgical care, Chain of Hope will continue its program in 2014 – 2015 with the organizer of missions Al Makassed Hospital in Amman.

Objectives

Treat surgically Syrian children in Jordan suffering from injuries, sequelae of injuries and trauma as a result of the civil conflict in Syria.

2014-2015 Program assignments:

• The Chain of Hope organized 11 missions for orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery and neurosurgery (4 in 2014, 7 in 2015). Each mission, which lasts an average of six days, is led by 3 people (1 surgeon, 1 anesthetist, 1 nurse).

• 200 children benefited from the mission’s interventions

Results: a total of 200 children were operated during the 18-month project (70 in 2014, 130 in 2015).